Draft gear



2 Sheets-Sheet l w. F. RICHARDS DRAFT GEAR Filed July 27, 1926 June 2, 1931.

l i n l June 2, 1,931. w F. RICHARDS DRAFT GEAR Filed July 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Loli] Patented June 2, 1931 Unirse srArEs PATE-NT ,oFFicE- WILLARD r. RICHARDS, or nErnvL-Nmv YORK, AAssreuoa To THE sYMiNGroN coM- PAN Y, 0l NEW YORK, N. Y., A CGRPORATI'ON OF MARYLAND DRAFT GEAR appuauon sied ,my 27, ieee. serial No. 125,258..

This invention relates to a draft and buff ing mechanism for railway cars, more especially to draft and bufingmechanism for cars of small tonnage such as are in use on industrial railways, and has for its object the providinor of a rugged easilyconstructed mechanism employing spring means to cushion the draft and bufting stresses encountered in this type of car. f

My invention is especially adapted for use in cars having spaced center sills and provides unusual reinforcing means whereby the draft and buiiing stresses may be effectively distributed to the center 'and end sills.

The advantages of the several features of construction will appear from a consideration of the drawings which embody a preferred form of my invention .in which:

Figure 1 is a horizontal plan view partly in section showing the spring assembly, the spring housing and the forward extension of the housing in its relation to the end sill'and striking plate.

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section- Yal view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1' showing especially the construction of the bifurcated coupler shank.

Figure 3 is a. vertical transverse sectional view on the line 3*8 of Figure 1 through the spring pockets showing the central web.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 1 showing the reinforcement of the end sill.

Figure 5 is an end view, partly in section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 showing the striking plate in its relation to the sills and the forward end of the housing.

Considering the drawings in detail like parts being designated by like reference characters, it will be noted that in the single embodiment of my invention shown, a bifurcated coupler shank 1 is preferably connected to an equalizingmember 2 by the pin 3 Aand that the coupler shank and equalizing member may have common arc shaped bearings 4 whereby bufing strains may be directly transmitted and the pin 3 relieved of a portion of these strains. A pair of tail bolts 5 and 6 may in turn be connected to the equalizing member 2 by the pivot pins 7 and 8 permitting a yand 16 .formed by the partitions 18y and 19 and the longitudinal web 19a of the housing 17. It will be noted that the followers 11 and 12 may be free to. slide upon the tail bolts 5 and 6 and also within the respective openings 20 and 21 in the front and rear walls or partitions 18 and 19 of the spring pockets 15 and 16. The side walls 22 and 23 are in Contact with and are conveniently secured to the center sills 24 and 25.

In a preferred form ofmy invention, the housing 17 may have a yforwardly extending portion 26 with a transverse forward member 27 of suitable contour in contact with and secured through the end sill 28 to the striking plate 29. -It may be desirabler and convenient to reinforce the side walls 22andl 23 of the housing 17 by the horizontal flanges 30 and31 and connect them to the forward member 27 which mayalso berein'forcedby vthe gussetsor triangular web members 32 and 33. yThe striking plate 29is provided with an opening 34 throughwhich the coupler shank may pass. The sidewalls 35-and 36of'this opening 34 'may be adapted. to limit the m'otion of the coupler shank permitted by yits pivotal connection with the equalizi'ng member 2. The coupler shank is conveniently supported by the floor portion 37. The striking plate may be provided with a striking portion 38 and with reinforcing flanges 39. A lower portionl 40 l having rearwardlyA extending flanges 41 and 42 which lie vbeneath and may be secured to the center sills 24 and 25 may also be provided. l'

Industrial cars for l which this inventori may be particularly adapted are subjected to especially Vhard usage i and have frequently vfailed in that satisfactory means have not been provided to adequately receive and distribute to the car frame the buffngand 'draftVv strains. My invention is devised especially to meet this condition with a device that is effective, exceedingly simple andreadily manufactured. In the preferred embodiment shown, an integral cast steel housing of special form not only contains the draft mechanism but intimately unites this mechanism, the center sills, the end sill and the striking casting.

Having now described my invention, I claim: i

l. In a draft and bufting mechanism, the combination with center and end sills of a housing connected thereto having at one end portions adapted to reinforce the end sill and at' the other end partitions forming compartments adapted to receive yielding means -of said draft and buliing mechanism, said partitionsbeing connected intermediate the ends bya longitudinally extending web.

2. In Va draft and buiiing mechanism, the combination with center and end sills of a housing connected thereto having at oneend portions adapted to reinforce the end sill and at the other end partitions connectingthe sides thereof and forming a compartment, and yielding means of saiddraft and buliing mechanism, received in said compartment and comprising a plurality of springsY with front and rear followers slidably mounted on tail bolts operatingV in apertures insaid partitions.

- 3. -In a draft and butling mechanism, the

combination vwith center and end sills of a housing connected thereto having at one end lportions adapted-to reinforce the end sill mounted upony tail bolts passing through said partitions.

4. In a draft and buiiing'mechanis'm, the

' tition between said transverse webs, said in- 6. A draft gear housing comprising an integral casting formed with side walls adapted for connection to associated sills, an end wall adapted for connection to an associated end sill, substantially horizontal webs reinforcing the connection between said side Walls and end-wall, and a plurality of transverse webs connecting the side walls adjacent the other end of said casting and forminga compartment for receiving cushioning mechanism.

7. A draft rigging housing comprising an integral casting formed with side walls adapted for connection with associated side sills, an end wall adapted for connection with anassociated end sill, and a plurality of transverse webs connecting the side walls adjacent the other end of the casting, and an intermediate longitudinallyk extending partermediate partition and transverse webs forming with the side walls compartments for receiving associated cushioning mechamsm. Y

- 8. In draft and vbufiing mechanism, incombination with side sills and an end sill, a plurality of transverse webs connecting said side sills and each formed with a pair of apertures registering with those in the other web, a follower received in each aperture,

resilient means disposed between said followers, tail bolts extending through said followers and resilient means, an equalizing member pivotally connected to the front ends of said tail bolts, and a coupler extending through the end sill with the butt thereof pivoted tothe equalizing member rintermediate the connection of the tail bolts thereto.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLARDF. RICHARDS.

Vcombination with center and end sillsof a housing connected thereto having at one end portions adapted to reinforce the end 'sill and at the other end partitions and a longitudinal web. forming pockets for receiving yielding means of saiddraft mechanism comprisingal plurality of springs and followers mounted upon tail bolts passing through said partitions, said tail bolts being pivotally -connected to an equalizing` member.

'5. In a draft and buiing mechanism, the combination with center and endV sillsv of a portions 'adapted'to reinforcethe end sill and at the other end partitions and a longitudinal webforming pockets for receiving yielding means of said draft mechanism compris- .housing connected thereto having at one 'end i ing a plurality ofsprings and followers i mounted upon tail boltspassingthrough said partitions, said tail bolts beingpivotally connected throuh an, 'equalizing member toV a "Q5 coupler shan 

